Magnetic Susceptibility of Deep-Water Sediments of the South and Middle Caspian Sea

The dependence of magnetic susceptibility (Κ) of bottom sediments from the Caspian Sea on the composition of magnetoactive minerals contained in the heavy subfraction of fine-grained sand (0.125–0.100 mm) was established. Changes in the curve shape and Κ value reflect a pulsating pattern of the input different (in magnetic properties) magmatic and metamorphic clastic minerals into sediments, as well as different intensities of the formation of authigenic magnetoactive iron sulfides under conditions of the multiple alternation of transgressive and regressive phases in marine basins. Values of Κ and shapes of Κ curves for the studied sedimentary sequences show that sediments in the South and Middle Caspian basins are characterized by different specific features.